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World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2018

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World Tai Chi and Qigong Day  is an annual event held on the last Saturday of April each year. Since 1999, millions of Tai Chi  and Qigong practitioners from around 80 countries joined this global movement to promote the health benefits of these ancient arts.

Due to its geographical position, Australia is one of the first countries the event starts with. This year, it fell on 28 April and was supported by many groups from all over the country. 

From 2014 (see the journal spread below), The Wushu Herald compiles reports from various clubs, organisations and individual participants. We encourage all organisers to announce their free events and share their experiences with the community.

 

 

  

2018

In New South Wales:

 

Newcastle

 

Amanda Heidke from The Tai Chi Centre” wrote:  “After spending a few days watching the rain fall and a weather forecast that did nothing to inspire confidence, the clouds dispersed and we were greeted with a spectacular autumn day for World Tai Chi Qigong Day celebrations.

Our morning was spent in a picture postcard scene overlooking Newcastle harbour. The sky was perfect blue, the air crisp and clean and the energy was palpable.

From complete novice to student and instructor regardless of experience, school or style at precisely 10.00am dozens of participants joined together to explore, share and breath the magic.  

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is our day to offer thanks and celebrate everything these ancient Chinese art forms give us. To be connected to self, each other and the universe is the ‘Supreme Ultimate’.”

The event was announced in The Newcastle Herald ahead of WTCQD:  https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5343147/tai-chi-sends-wave-of-healing-around-world/?cs=6158

 

Sydney

 

At least three separate events were held in various areas of Sydney. The day’s weather was direct opposite to Newcastle and certainly not the best for any outdoor activities but nothing could stop genuine Tai Chi enthusiasts!

Paul Cheah from The Eastwood Tai Chi Group said:

“The Eastwood Tai Chi Group held the event at Darvall park, Denistone. The weather was uncooperative as it rained most of the time. Around 45 participants turned up but had to stay under shelter wondering if the event had to be cancelled. 

Fortunately, at around around 9.30 am, it cleared up  and we quickly set up our banner (whose words were cut from paper). The event started with qigong exercises and then our Sifu Zhang Zinkai led the group through the competition forms Tai Chi. 

Our main objective was to make a 3 minute video to put up on the World Tai Chi Qigong website so that Eastwood would be among all the places in the world celebrating the event! We just managed to do it before the skies opened up again!

Then we retired to the shelters to share  some hot drinks and snacks.”

A few practitioners – members of the Wushu & Tai Chi NSW decided to get together in Boronia Park, Epping. Because of rain, the session started under the shelter on the playground. Later it moved to the open. The Wushu Herald was told that the group did traditional Yang Tai Chi, Duan Wei form and Health Qigong routines. The exercises were followed by a small picnic which later smoothly  relocated to a local restaurant continuing the celebration and planning for the next adventures.

Also in Sydney, Tai Chi Association of Australia reported on their website: “2018 World Taichi & Qigong Day (WTCQD) Saturday 28 April started with rain! Scheduled for Victoria Park, we took refuge within the Sydney University grounds, and it turned out to be quite nice and cosy as we were in a little amphitheatre.”

Alex Galvan from Sydney Vision Tai Chi Qigong Health Centre, despite the pouring rain, led his group in Qigong and Tai Chi practice (and has a video to prove it!)

This is a collective gallery of images from NSW:

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In Victoria:

 

The World Tai Chi & Qigong Day celebrations in Victoria were expected to be organised by many groups.

In Bendigo, Raymond Lee organised a nice event and provided pictures (produced by Thomas Merrett Photography). 

Christine Milton from Numurkah sent their group photo too.

Jill Thio from East Gippsland said: “World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2018 was very successful in East Gippsland. Our event was held in the picturesque  little town of Bruthen, which is located about 26 km from Bairnsdale. We hold WTCQD events every year but this year, with about 50 participants, we set a new record. Tai Chi enthusiasts from Bairnsdale, Metung, Paynesville, Eagle Point, and of course Bruthen, plus many other East Gippsland locations joined in. Our guest instructor, Robyn Hill, taught us some new animal qigong movements which was great fun and enjoyed by all. Great coffee and cake  at the Bull Ant Brewery overlooking the Tambo River afterwards.  A wonderful way to spend an autumn morning.”

Here are some of the photos taken on the day:

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In Queensland:

 

The World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Queensland was celebrated in at least three locations:

 

Mackay

 

Leanne Simpson, Fitness & Wellness Educator from Mackay writes:

“Today we added to history’s pages as we joined the wave around the world sharing World Tai Chi & Qigong Day 2018.
Promoting the mindful movement of tai chi for well-being. Thank you to our volunteers and Mackay City Centre for making this morning so successful and calming.”

(see video: https://www.balanceminder.com.au/mackay-joins-the-wave-of-one-world-one-breath/)

 

Caloundra

 

A couple of pictures were sent to us by Stephen Ramsdale who teaches Tai Chi in Caloundra.

 

Hervey Bay

 

Margaret Richters from Hervey Bay shared with Wushu Herald the details of the event:

“April 28th 2018 The Australian Academy of Tai Chi Hervey Bay and Bundaberg branches and Tai Chi for Health Hervey Bay joined together to celebrate World Tai Chi Day 2018. This was celebrated in the Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens Chinese Pagoda area with 40 people in total.

Our day commenced at 10am with all participants doing 2 Shibashi exercises together. We then following Tai Chi for Health in doing the Bejing 24 form and then completed Levels 1 to 3 of the Khor Tai Chi movement set. A short morning tea break, to get to know each other and sharing our Tai Chi stories. We then performed Lohan together before both groups demonstrating their Sword form and Fan sets. The morning finished with Lotus exercise.

A great morning of fellowship and shared Tai Chi enjoyment.”

The event was reported in the local newspaper, Fraser Coast Chronicle: https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/celebrating-world-tai-chi-day-with-public-display/3401955/

Combined gallery of images from these three events:

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”12″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”1″ thumbnail_width=”120″ thumbnail_height=”90″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”5″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”0″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” template=”default” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

 

In Tasmania:

 

Catherine Fernon from Tasmania told Wushu Herald: “Approximately fifty Tai Chi and Qigong teachers and students from North West Tasmania came together to celebrate World Tai Chi and Qigong Day at Gutteridge Gardens in Wynyard.  Jay McGough who has recently moved to Tasmania from Victoria led the session as participants learnt and then practised Wudang Longevity Qigong. It was the first time we have participated in  World Tai Chi and Qigong Day and everyone was very moved by the whole world wide event.”

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”13″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”1″ thumbnail_width=”120″ thumbnail_height=”90″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”5″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”0″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” template=”default” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

 

In Western Australia:

 

In anticipation of this global event, the group of Tai Chi practitioners from Broome, WA, addressed all supporters:

“We are certainly going to be the first to start off World Tai Chi day 7am Town Beach. It will be 10am in some pacific islands where a few intrepid practitioners will start with us!

Dear World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Supporters, Saturday, April 28th is almost here!

A word on tomorrow’s global wave …
Something very special and extraordinary will begin on Saturday … for today our media is too often filled with images of division and separation. Is this real? Or is there something more, something profound, something sacred about our human condition. The news is often loud, brash, course … Tai Chi is soft, quiet, deep, knowing, subtle and relentless … like the winds and the rain changing the course of the world with whispers and sighs …

Something very special will occur starting Saturday in Oceania and Asia … from Jerusalem, Israel to Tehran, Iran … from Moscow, Russia to Washington D.C. … a global wave of goodwill will expand in the form of mass Tai Chi & Qigong events … a global Tai Chi and Qigong family will “come together” and provide an example to the world.”

And here are some pictures from Broome:

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This report is by no means the comprehensive coverage of all World Tai Chi & Qigong events happened in Australia on 28 April 2018. If you didn’t find your event mentioned in this article, please let us know and we will include you as well! All pictures and details are welcome.

Remember: Pictures! Or it never happened!

Gold from Hong Kong for Serenity Tai Chi, Sydney!

Our Congratulations to three Australians from “Serenity Tai Chi Chuan”, Sydney, who participated in the 16th Hong Kong Wushu International Championships (16 – 18 March 2018)! John Gough says: “All three of us – Laoshi Serene Yong Harris, John Gough and Lyn Brownlow – attained Gold Medals in our Competition Event. Approximately 4,250 competitors, from China, Asia and Europe.  We flew the flag for Australia and were part of the team from Singapore. We trust our adventure encourages others to have a go on the International Stage.“

Tai Chi in NSW Senior Festival

As a part of NSW Senior Festival 2018, some Sydney Tai Chi practitioners volunteered to demonstrate their skills in public places like shopping centres etc. This is just one example of such enthusiasts: Alex Galvan, the principal of Sydney Vision. His next presentations will take place: on Thursday 5 April at 1.30 – 2.00 pm at the Community Centre, 2 Lane St, Wentworthville; on Friday 13 April at 10.30 – 11.00 am at Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre, Bankstown. Other Tai Chi practitioners might do the the same!

The Wushu Duan Wei System

In China and some other countries, Wushu is taught at universities and colleges as an academic and professional subject. The absence of formal Wushu education in Australia presents a difficult challenge to the Wushu, Tai Chi and Qigong instructors and the general public seeking their services.
The Duan Wei System might be an answer…

“The Chinese Wushu Duan Wei System is a system stipulated and implemented by the Chinese Wushu Association to overall evaluate the levels of Wushu practitioners. To further popularize and promote Wushu worldwide, and increase theoretical and technical level, the Chinese Wushu Association holds “Training Course and Examination of Chinese Wushu Duan Wei System for Overseas Practitioners” from time to time” [from the official website of the Chinese Wushu Association – www.wushu.com.cn]. The information below is adapted from the abovementioned website.
What is the Duan Wei System?

Wushu and Tai Chi practitioners have the internationally recognised grading system called Duan Wei system. As was stated above, the Duan Wei System was established by the Chinese Wushu Association in conjunction with the National Sport Commission and the Chinese Wushu Research Institute to provide international standards for Wushu/Tai Chi grading.

The report about the meeting of the Wushu officials in China states that “Wushu Administrative Centre of the State Sports General Administration’s focus is to continue to promote in-depth development of Wushu Duan System. Wushu Duan System is one of the pillars of the system to support the development of martial arts career.”

It is a step-by-step “low-to-high level” evaluation system for all martial arts practitioners according to the required standards in Wushu that supports practitioners’ efforts. It also provides them with latest research information and helps to develop and improve their skills regardless of their background.

The Duan Wei System was revised in 2011 with the introduction of the Duan Wei Text Book (sometimes called New Tutorials) Series as the result of many years of research and consultation with leading Wushu masters of respective styles (hundreds of masters were consulted during this research). Although there were quite a few changes lately in the way of the content, routines and assessment, the essence of the grading procedure remains relatively the same.

The simplest way to understand it will be to compare it with the study at the university. The first three levels (Elementary Duans) correspond to the years of studying at the college: the First Duan, the Second Duan and the Third Duan – based on years of study and practical and technical skills that are assessed during exams.

Next, or intermediate, levels are for teachers and instructors with experience and knowledge acquired during the years of teaching and practicing. At these levels, the age and number of years spent on practice is taken into account; people cannot jump over the grades. The Fourth Duan would roughly (only for the sake of comparison) correspond to a Lecturer in our university system; the Fifth Duan – to Senior Lecturer; and the Sixth Duan – to Professor. And that’s what you will see in Chinese Universities whose lecturers in Wushu all have to go through the system and be assessed, so they all are at different levels of their expertise.

The candidates for Duan levels 3-6 are assessed on the basis of two forms (bare-hand and weapon) of their choice. The assessment can be done on the basis of the score that participants get by engaging in competition, however, practitioners can be also assessed without doing so.

The highest technical level is the Sixth Duan. Those who have held the Sixth Duan and practiced for another six years, passed theoretical and practical exams, made remarkable achievements in theoretical research and are at least 45 years old and “noble-minded in wushu virtues” are qualified for applying for the Seventh Duan.

The Eighth Duan has been usually given for additional work on the world-wide level in the field of academic knowledge and promoting the arts.

The Ninth Duan is reserved for only a few distinguished masters who are considered to be “living treasures”.

There are also three so-called pre-Duan levels (sometimes called “Wushu for Fun”).

In summary, there are the following divisions in the Duan Wei grading:

  • Pre – Duan Wei: 1st Level, 2nd Level, 3rd Level
  • Elementary Duan Wei: 1st Duan, 2nd Duan, 3rd Duan
  • Intermediate Duan Wei: 4th Duan, 5th Duan, 6th Duan
  • Advanced Duan Wei: 7th Duan, 8th Duan, 9th Duan

The Chinese Wushu Association is dedicated to running regular training sessions for instructors teaching Wushu as well as practitioners interested in their personal development and professional growth.

International applicants are welcome but they have to have practiced Wushu for at least two years and should be able to demonstrate their technical skills and theoretical knowledge and understanding of Wushu ethics and etiquette.

Unlike other martial arts’ grading systems, where sometimes eight-year olds can have “black belts” awarded by their own local instructors, the Duan Wei System is administered by the Chinese Wushu Association and the Duans are awarded by a panel of professional assessors.

 

(This article was originally published in Wushu Herald 2014 Volume 2 Issue 1)

CNY Photo Competition Results

The Wushu Herald is proud to announce the results of its very first Chinese New Year Photo Competition 2018. We were pleased to receive entries from various sources that show-cased and captured the essence of Wushu and Tai Chi performance and practice in a Chinese New Year setting. 

Congratulations go to first prize winner – Wilson Lo, the principal of Yut Hung Kung Fu Academy, Canberra, with their powerful and dramatic shot of two leaping Wushu students being watched by a fascinated crowd in a festive backdrop of CNY decorations and red lanterns. As one of the judges noted, “this one ticks all the boxes of the photo competition criteria and the photo also has a powerful Wushu impact”.

Second place goes to Gerard Zimmerman who photographed the colourful Sword performance by the Wushu & Tai Chi NSW group in Chatswood. 

‘Tai Chi Rabbits in Action’, a quirky magical shot of “lantern rabbits” in a Tai Chi pose, photographed at Circular Quay, Sydney by Josephine Chow, came in third in the competition.

Winners will be awarded cash prizes and all short-listed participants will be offered a free membership for a year.

We, at the Wushu Herald, hope that you will all continue to support and participate in this photographic CNY event in future years to come. With the success of this year’s competition which is supported by the Wushu Council Australia, we expect it to be even bigger and better next year.

View all short-listed entries